How will you work to make the board more approachable and transparent?

I believe that I am quite visible and available to every resident in town. I have a personal policy to answer every email I receive. I hope that residents feel comfortable coming and speaking at selectmen’s meetings and at other open hearings as it is extremely important to have public input into the process.

Why does Maynard have a “revenue problem” with high taxes when there are significant downtown and other commercial properties in town as compared to nearby neighboring “bedroom” communities with little commercial development?

We have been hit hard by unpredictable increases in employee health care and special education costs, without which our budget would be in great shape. We repurposed the old library for a new police station and built a new high school through debt exclusion overrides and we continue to pay off the Fowler and library debt. Other similar sized towns have not done as much. We can improve by creating a five year capital plan to pay for future capital needs without a debt exclusion. As Mill & Main and the Parker Street projects come on board, we have opportunities for additional revenue.

Why was the town not able to meet the School Committee’s funding request? Could funds have been found to approach the requested amount? If so, where? What would you have to cut?

The money just was not available, although the town’s proposed budget did increase the school’s budget substantially. Some funds did become available after renegotiating our employee health care plan. I advocated for transferring some of those savings to the school budget, but the board disagreed and on a 4-1 vote the money went elsewhere. While this would not have solved the school’s budget concerns, it would have sent a strong message that we understood the gravity of their situation. Importantly, sharing some money with the schools would not have required any cuts from the previously proposed budget, although some money would have to be shifted from other budget line items.

Do you have any plans to lower taxes through having better oversight of town departments including DPW and their use of overtime, regionalizing services, decreasing funding to the fire department, and / or as a result of the increased revenue that the Mill & Main and Parker Street developments will generate? Please explain.

Lowering taxes is tough especially when hearing the cries from the School Department for more funding. There is already growing competition for allocation of potential revenue from 129 Parker St. and other new growth. Some believe that the school’s problems will be solved; some say new revenue will allow us to fund a new fire station without a debt exclusion and others believe that such revenue will reduce taxes. Let’s be honest, not all of these things can happen with the limited funds that will come from the anticipated new growth. Instead, we must be smart with our allocation of funds. We must have an open and honest community discussion about our values and where we want to move as a town. We can’t do it all, but we can do a lot. I’m not an advocate for cutting services. Instead, we must be smart about our finances and have a mutual understanding of our ultimate goal.

How would you make up the potential loss of federal funds if Maynard became a Sanctuary Town?

The Maynard Police Department has an effective policy that I believe protects all residents and meets Maynard’s needs. This policy is protective of all of our people regardless of immigrant status. Therefore, Maynard is unlikely to lose any federal funds.